You can click on the small photos for a larger view.
Many
of these photos come from a larger
collection. For
many, custom photo books
are a great idea for keeping physical photographs in great condition.
This website acts as an online photo book that represents
history.

The 4 May 1945 Liberation of Berchtesgaden and
Obersalzberg
by the 3rd Infantry DivisionOutpost Europe, Society of the 3rd Infantry Division,
The US Army Center of Military History, and
The United States Army Historical Foundation

Honor veterans on the 65th Anniversary of their liberation of
Berchtesgaden

In
this previously unpublished photo, Lt.Col. Kenneth Wallace, 30th
Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division (on the right), discusses
the surrender of Berchtesgaden with Bürgermeister Karl Sandrock
(left, in overcoat) and Landrat Theodor Jacob (center), in the
square in front of the war memorial. From there, this group traveled
up to the Obersalzberg, to complete the surrender of the area, 4 May
1945 (Click here to see photos of the capture of the Obersalzberg by
troops of the 3rd Infantry Division).
(National Archives, RG 111-SC 204346-S)http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bgaden.htm

On 5 May 2008, Old Glory flew again on the
Obersalzberg, Germany. A special forty-eight star flag was raised by
Society members, commemorating the flag-raising ceremony conducted
there by 7th Infantry Regiment Soldiers exactly 63 years earlier on
5 May 1945.

3ID Vets raising the flag

Berchtesgaden Plaque

Veterans Bob Dutil, John Miller, and Ross
Brown, who had all been present at the 1945 ceremony, raised the
flag and then unveiled a commemorative brass plaque. The plaque
recognizes the 3rd Infantry Division’s entry into Berchtesgaden on 4
May 1945, the first Allied unit to enter the city. Assisting the
three veterans were Paul Heintges, grandson of 7th Infantry Regiment
Commander, Colonel John Heintges; Kathy Brinson, daughter of veteran
Joe Kolacz; Captain Monika Stoy, President of OP Europe and ceremony
organizer; Dr. Bernhard Oswald of the International Resorts GmbH
(which owns the Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden), and State
Secretary Georg Fahrenschon of the Bavarian Finance Ministry. Also
attending the ceremony were Berchtesgaden, Mayor Franz Rasp and the
U.S. Consul General in Munich, the Honorable Mr. Eric Nelson. While
the 1945 ceremony had been short and solemn, this one concluded with
the singing of the “Dog Face Soldier”—the first time the Division
song was sung on the Obersalzberg.

Bob Dutil and John Miller with Plaque

Captain Monika Stoy and 3 Vets unveiling the Plaque

The ceremony preserved history by making
history—the plaque is the first to recognize an American unit for
its WWII accomplishments in Germany, and in a location of tremendous
significance—the Obersalzberg. The 3rd Infantry Division made
history 63 years ago when, after 2 years and 9 months of combat,
soldiers of the 7th Infantry Regiment, along with attachments, under
orders from Division Commander, Major General “Iron Mike” O’ Daniel,
won the race to reach the last significant Nazi war symbol and
entered Berchtesgaden shortly before 1600 hours on 4 May 1945; the
original flag ceremony took place the next day. Last month’s Marne
Trail ceremony made history by bringing Americans and Germans
together on this special anniversary.

In her keynote speech, Captain Stoy honored the
veterans’ accomplishments and the division’s grand achievement, and
paid special tribute to the close and important relationship between
Germany and the United States, and between Bavaria and the US Army,
and between German and American people. She described the
relationship as one that developed after WWII, characterized by
mutual respect and admiration and critical to victory in the Cold
War. “The 3rd Infantry Division’s entry into
Berchtesgaden signaled the end of the greatest evil to befall
mankind in the 20th century, as well as the long national
nightmare of the German people,” said Captain Stoy.“It also signaled
the beginning of a partnership and a friendship between the United
States and Germany,” she said, adding that “this partnership proved
to be indispensable in the West’s ability to defend freedom from
totalitarianism.”

Captain Stoy concluded her speech by stating
that the German-American relationship “…continues to be
indispensable as Europe and the United States face the myriad
challenges of the 21st century. It is a partnership that
grew from the shared sacrifices of the Cold War, but is based on the
true friendship that developed between American soldiers and the
German people who were their hosts here.” The speech was translated
into German by Lieutenant Colonel Tim Stoy, who also narrated the
ceremony.

The memorial plaque visibly testifies to the
division’s hard-won battle honor of liberating Berchtesgaden, a fact
erroneously called into question in Stephen Ambrose’s book Band
of Brothers which inaccurately the 506th Parachute Infantry
Regiment with that honor. Regrettably, the book’s 2001 HBO
mini-series the inaccuracy to the American public. Now, the
Obersalzberg Marne Trail ceremony sets the record straight.

Not only the plaque, but also eyewitnesses
testify to this fact. Major General Lloyd Ramsey, then a lieutenant
colonel, knows exactly what happened; he had been posted by Iron
Mike O’ Daniel at the only operational bridge providing access to
Berchtesgaden. Sherman Pratt, then a first lieutenant and commander
of L Company, also knows what happened; it was his company that
raced to reach Bertchesgaden. Bennett Walker knows; then a sergeant,
he had been chosen to raise the flag on 5 May 1945 because of his
valor in the fighting in Nuernberg during the previous month and
because of his actions as platoon sergeant of the lead platoon in L
Company. Bob Dutil of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Infantry’s I&R section,
and John Miller of L Company also know; they were there, too. All of
these veterans and eyewitnesses know the real history of the
liberation of Betchesgaden. They and many others have provided
invaluable support for the Marne Trail Project and for the
Obersalzberg ceremony.

Color Guard from Mannheim VFW Post 9534

State Secretary Georg Fahrenschon Speech

Other critical support for the memorial plaque
dedication was provided by the Bavarian State Chancery under State
Secretary Eberhard Sinner, represented at the ceremony by State
Secretary Georg Fahrenschon of the Finance Ministry, and by the
International Resorts GmbH, represented by its Director General, Dr.
Bernhard Oswald. The Intercontinental Resort Berchtesgaden Director,
Mr. Tom Bauer, and his staff, led by Andreas Zybell, provided
important assistance and acted as hosts to the veterans and family
members who traveled to Germany for the ceremony. The hotel also
arranged for a local band to provide musical support. VFW Post 9534
from Mannheim, Germany, under Commander Matt Coulter, provided an
outstanding color guard for the ceremony—all six color guard members
became Society members.

Two individuals provided key support. . Colonel
Steffen Rohde, German Army, retired, was of immeasurable assistance
throughout the preparation process which began last year. And,
Florian Beierl, the historian of the Obersalzberg Institute,
rendered invaluable assistance in coordinating with local
authorities, supplying vital historical background, and providing
linguistic support. He has also provided great moral support for the
3rd ID; in his published history of the Obersalzberg, he accurately
credits the Division with liberating Berchtesgaden

At a post-ceremony reception hosted by the
hotel, Captain Stoy recognized those who contributed to the success
of the event and presented the three veterans and Kathy Brinson,
representing her father, Joe Kolasz, with Freedom Team Salute
certificates from the Department of the Army. The veterans then
presented their state flags to Dr. Oswald – California by Bob Dutil,
Michigan by John Miller, Colorado by Kathy Brinson, and Texas by
Paul Heintges.

Monika presents Freedom team salute to Vets

Berchtesgaden Schloss Group

Media coverage was provided by the Armed Forces
Network- Bavaria, arranged by the Army Chief of Public Affairs,
Major General Anthony Cucolo. Other media coverage included Bavarian
television and the Berchtesgaden newspaper.

OP Europe has worked on the Marne Trail project
for three years, placing 19 plaques in France; the Obersalzberg
plaque, the only Marne Trail plaque in Germany, marks the logistical
end of the Marne Trail. Now the Obersalzberg can serve as a meeting
point for veterans, their children and grandchildren, and all
supporters of the 3rd Infantry Division, can return annually to
remember the Division’s tremendous achievements. The special Old
Glory will remain, flying over Obersalzberg at the 3ID monument
throughout the year and will greet the next group of veterans who
plan to visit in May 2009!

Howitzers,
Grasshoppers, and the Holy Right Hand (Paperback)by
John Niesel (Author)

When he enlisted in the United
States Army Artillery six months prior to the attack on Pearl Harbor, Harold
Brown couldn't possibly have known what fate had in store for him. Traveling
from the high plains of Colorado to the battlefields of Europe, Harold
experienced the war as many American GI's did, enduring its trials and
horrors, hoping for the day when he could finally come home. Unlike most
GI's in World War II however, Harold would have the opportunity to touch
history, and in doing so, he would play a part in the recovery of the most
important national symbols of Hungary: the Holy Right Hand and the Crown of
St. Stephen. Illustrated with over 160 relevant photographs, and printed in
an easy-to-read format, Harold's recounting of his service covers many of
the major battles in the ETO. Harold was awarded the Air Medal and the
Bronze Star for his service, and it is an honor to share his story with you.

The 3rd Infantry Division
raises the Stars and Stripes at Obersalzberg, above Berchtesgaden. The flag is raised by
Pvt. Bennet A. Walker and Pfc. Nick Urich of the 3rd Division's, 7th Infantry after capture
of the village.

Read the November 2005 issue
of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine starting on Page 214-The story by
Clive Irving of a tour of present day Berchtesgaden with the usual
errors of the 7th Infantry Regt. of the 3rd Division not
being the first unit to capture the town.

A Hotel Too Far?by Clive Irving-Published November 2005

What do you get when you transform the Nazis' Bavarian
playground into a luxury resort? Clive Irving explores the enigma of
Hitler's legacy, and discovers that some ghosts can never be laid to
rest

Early in May 1945, the American Third Infantry Division—which
since 1942 had fought all the way from North Africa to Germany via
Sicily, the Italian mainland, and France—was racing to seize an
objective in southeastern Bavaria. Its capture would, symbolically if
not literally, end the Second World War in Europe. Other American and
French units were converging on the same terrain, a vast natural
redoubt in the Bavarian Alps at the center of which was the small
village of Obersalzberg. If any place could be said to be the
spiritual locus of the Nazi creed it was here, where Adolf Hitler had
spent a large part of his 12 years as Führer (sometimes up to six
months at a time), in an Alpine house called the Berghof. Across the
valley from the Berghof was the Untersberg, a mountain said to contain
the immortal soul of the emperor Charlemagne, who had conquered most
of Christian Europe in the ninth century—a role model of Hitler's and
one for whom he felt a mystical attachment.

Unfortunately, the following
paragraph perpetuates a persistent mis-conception that the 3rd
Infantry Division was not the first unit to enter Berchtesgaden.
Clive Irving said when units of the 3rd Division reached Hitler's
mountain top compound above Berchtesgaden, the French were already
there and were first. That is not true. The 3rd was first,
the French arrived four hours later, and Easy Co, 506 Parachute
Regt, 101st Airborne (Band of Brothers) arrived 16 hours after the
Third. The 101 has always claimed to be first. They were third. We
had years of trying to set the record straight, as Stephen Ambrose
in his book, Band of Brothers, had the 101 first.
Please read the true story of the 3rd Division's entry below by Sherman
Pratt and Russ Cloer from the 7th Inf. Regt of the 3rd Infantry
Division.

On May 4, the Third Infantry Division reached the resort town
of Berchtesgaden and from there took a narrow, twisting road a few
miles up to Obersalzberg, some 1,200 feet above. It found the French
Second Armored, the first of the Free French troops to have entered
Paris in 1944, already there. Nobody much cared who was first. A force
of 315 British bombers had already pulverized much of the Nazi
compound and had left the Berghof a shell. But truckloads of loot were
still to be had, especially wine from the cellars of Field Marshal
Hermann Göring, creator of Nazi air power, who had built himself a
handsome vacation house near the Berghof. In short order, two enlisted
men from the Third Infantry, watched by a small group of
comrades, raised the Stars and Stripes over Obersalzberg, echoing the
way their compatriots in the Pacific had raised the flag over Iwo Jima
in February 1945.

In his bunker in Berlin, Hitler was about to commit suicide.

This spring, not long after the sixtieth anniversary of the end of the
war in Europe, I drove up the same road taken by the Third Infantry
to Obersalzberg.

Until this trip, I had only a hazy idea of the geography of Hitler's
Bavarian compound. Three names have always been tangled up to suggest,
wrongly, one location: Berchtesgaden, which often served as the
generic term, though in fact it was nothing more than the nearest
resort town (one that had survived the Allied bombs virtually
unscathed); the Berghof, which, although it was the domicile of a
megalomaniac, was not of imperial size, more a McChalet than a
McMansion; and, a few thousand feet higher, at the summit of the
closest mountain, the Kehlsteinhaus, or Eagle's Nest, a work of
architectural brutalism, which Hitler never liked because he hated
heights.

I wasn't sanguine about making this journey. My destination was a new
Inter. Continental Resort, built on the site of Hermann Göring's house.
And the inescapable issue was: Can a place that was for so long
inhabited by real, manifest evil ever lose the stench of its history?
Within minutes of taking the mountain road, the question became more
complicated. The setting was innately beautiful, and nothing could
alter that. It was a hot, brilliantly clear day—as crystalline as only
the Alps can create. There were still streaks of snow in shadowed
crags on the summits, but below tree line, the valley meadows were a
shimmering emerald and the wilder slopes were colored by gentian,
Alpine rose, and columbine...

7th Regt. 3d Inf. Div. troops at
Berchtesgaden May 1945, have something to smile about after 3 years of intensive fighting .
Jerry Daddato, Outpost 18 sent the 1945 June issue of Yank magazine with this photo
on the front page.

1abh5a.jpgThe front
window of Hitler's "Gaestehaus" chalet which was situated further up the hill behind Hitler's
Berghof.Actually, it is the Berghof, the picture is taken inside the dining hall.
You can see the half-round shaped place in the middle of your picture, from
the outside it looked as in this picture;
http://www.thirdreichruins.com/BerghofAK1.jpg
It is a sidebuilding from the berghof, about in the middle of the picture,
next to the flag (left).
Greetings, M. Bijl, Netherlands

1abh7a.jpg

Hitler's
retreat was also known as The Eagles Nest. The French 2nd Armored Division arrived
with the 3rd Division simultaneously
at Obersalzberg and the Eagles Nest (the mountain teahouse) of Adolph Hitler.

Although
Berchtesgaden was beyond
the 3rd Division zone, General O'Daniel ordered the 7th Infantry to continue on
through the hills to Hitler's mountain retreat. This was the last action of World War II for the
3rd Infantry Division.

Click Here or on
"Third Reich in Ruins" Website Logo to see
more photos of Berchtesgaden

Photos from Alain Godec

French Soldiers stand by one of
Hitler's Mercedes near the Berghof at Berchtesgaden

The Eagles Nest (tea house) on the
Kehlstein Mountain
Photo on right: Lt MESSIAH (with a scarf) and his men

These photos shows the big
flag (which was in fact Dutch) that the French put on the
balcony/terrace of the Berghof. The French looking for a French flag,
found only a Dutch Flag. When used the right way (vertical stripes
instead of horizontal) made it look like the French flag.

Goering's Guest house

12th Company, 3rd Battalion,
of
"Regiment de Marche du Tchad
Lt. Messiah sitting with his hands on his lap with a beret.

This is a letter in response to Major Dick Winter's
recollections in his book "Beyond Band of Brothers". He wondered why the
7th Infantry Regiment was nowhere to be found when Easy Company entered
Berchtesgaden after the 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry
Division captured it.

March 18, 2006

Dear Mr. Winters,

We are writing in regards to what you have termed the
"controversy" regarding the capture of Berchtesgaden. We are of the
opinion that there is overwhelming documentation to support the fact
that the 7th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division deserves the
title of "liberators". Some, but by no means all, of the sources
follow. To preclude any inference of bias none of the sources have ties
to the 3rd Division.

In THE LAST OFFENSIVE Charles B. MacDonald states on page
442, “It was congestion, not resistance, that slowed entry into
Berchtesgaden. “Everybody and his brother,” said one radio message,
“are trying to get into the town.” Motorized troops of the 3d Division
got there first, in the late afternoon of 4 May.”

In CRUSADE IN EUROPE President, then General of the Army,
Dwight D. Eisenhower states on page 418, "On May 4 the 3rd Division of
the same Corps captured Berchtesgaden."

In SWORDS AND PLOWSHARES General Maxwell D. Taylor,
former Commanding General of the 101st Airborne, states on page 106, "On
May 4 the Division received an order to move on Berchtesgaden behind
LeClerc's tanks sharing the Salzburg autobahn with the 3d Infantry
Division, Unfortunately, a bridge was destroyed on our side of the
autobahn, so that 3d Division units got into Berchtesgaden ahead of us
on the afternoon of May 4, followed by two battalions of the 506th
Parachute Infantry."

In BEYOND THE RHINE Donald R. Burgett, a member of A
Company of the 506th PIR, states on page 132, "Radio transmissions were
made by the 506th Regiment's 2nd Battalion to 101st Command, telling of
the problem with Major General O'Daniel blocking the way. It took time
to send and receive orders to counter those of General O'Daniel. By
that time the General had received word by radio that the 7th Regiment
of his 3d Division had entered Berchtesgaden, and only then did he lift
his roadblock and allow the 2nd Battalion 506th to proceed."

You pose the question, "If the 3rd Division was first
into Berchtesgaden, where did they go?" That question is perhaps best
answered by Professor John C. McManus of the History Department of the
University of Missouri - Rolla. In what may be the most researched and
detailed account of the capture of Berchtesgaden, "The Last Great
Prize", published in the May 2005 issue of WORLD WAR II magazine, he
gives the following account of a meeting between Colonel Robert Sink,
your Regimental Commander and Colonel John Heintges, Commander of the
7th:

Heintges returned to his command post and was
visited by Colonel Robert Sink, the commander of the 506th Parachute
Infantry Regiment. The two men were old friends, and they warmly
greeted each other. They then sat down for a nice lunch and went up to
Heintges room for a few drinks.

Sink
turned to Heintges and said: "Well, Johnny, I'm up here ... to relieve
you. My Regiment is on the way up here."

Heintges was surprised because the 3rd Division staff
had led him to believe that the 7th Infantry would get to stay in
Berchtesgaden for awhile. "I just talked to Division a little while
ago," Heintges uttered, "and they told me I'd be up here for five or six
days."

"Oh yes," Sink replied, "but those plans were all
changed and you're going back to Salzburg.”

Heintges
excused himself, called the 3rd Division and found out that Sink was
correct. The 7th Infantry had orders to Salzburg, its original - and
authorized - zone of operations."

It is our hope that this information will help to dispel
any doubts that you may have about the 7th Infantry and Berchtesgaden.
If this can be accomplished we all move one step closer to the end of
any "controversy".

It is not our desire to detract from the accomplishments
of the men of Easy Company or the 101st. That would
be impossible. We seek only to have the deeds of the veterans of the
7th acknowledged for themselves and their families. Our fathers served
with the 30th Regiment of the 3rd Division in World War II. We look
upon the men of the 7th as their "brothers in arms" and will do all that
we can to insure that their deeds are recognized.

On a personal note, Lt. Col. Sherman Pratt USA (ret), a
veteran of both World War II and Korea, is a friend. In 1945 then Lt.
Pratt was in command of L Company of the 7th Infantry when they entered
Berchtesgaden on the 4th of May. After the publication of BAND OF
BROTHERS he wrote Steven Ambrose seeking and acknowledgement of the
facts. He was summarily rebuffed.

We are aware that you receive many letters and have
countless demands on your time. However, we respectfully request the
favor of a reply that we may share with Mr. Pratt and other veterans of
the 7th.

You have our deepest gratitude for your service to Our
Country, as do all those who served in whatever branch or theatre. We
wish you all only the best.

GOD BLESS AMERICA AND THOSE WHO SERVE,

Lee Hatfield, Son of Lee Hatfield 30th/3rd
Lewis Pergament, Son of Hyman Pergament 30th/3rdMichael Wells, Son
of Franklin Wells 30th/3rd

For some months the U.S. Army’s Third Infantry Division vets have
been attempting to get Historian Stephen Ambrose and filmmaker Stephen
Spielberg (Saving Private Ryan) to set the record straight as to which
unit arrived in Berchtesgaden first.

Subsequent to our earlier protests, we now find additional and
unimpeachable authorities to support our contentions. We here pass these
along to anyone interested in joining us in the struggle to correct the
falsehood of Ambrose and Spielberg.

Allied Commander Dwight Eisenhower, and the CG of the 101st Airborne
Division, General Maxwell Taylor, have both specifically credited the
Third Division with the honor of entering Berchtesgaden first.

In his book, "Crusade in Europe", on page 418, Gen Ike wrote, "On May
4th....the Third Division captured Berchtesgaden," In General Maxwell
Taylor’s memoir "Swords and Plowshares", wrote, in part, on page 106,
"On May 4th the Division (Taylor’s 101st Airborne) received an order to
move on Berchtesgaden....unfortunately a bridge was destroyed on our
side of the autobahn so that the 3rd Division got to Berchtesgaden ahead
of us on the after-noon of May 4th."

One would think that these two honored and reliable authorities would be
more than adequate to result in a retraction and correction by Ambrose
and Spielberg. But so far, in spite of continued complaints no such
development has occurred. Again Hollywood demonstrates it is far more
interested in box office receipts than historical accuracy.

Unfortunately, far too many of those men who deserved the tribute, are
no longer alive to enjoy it. But little is fair in this life. Those of
us who are still here to experience the change are happy to accept it
with the same good grace that we volunteered to serve.

The Truth! French ViewRegarding the picture with de Valence, O'Daniel and Leclerc,
with gratitude to Alain Godec
Here is what Lt. De Valence said about it :

bh64aax.jpg

This
photo of General O'Daniel, General Leclerc de Hauteclocque, and Lieutenant De Valence
was most certainly taken in Berchtesgaden on May 5, 1945, as this was probably
the only time Leclerc was wearing a "cap". De Valence was wounded in Normandy (he lost an arm) but came back at
the end of the war, therefore being with Leclerc at Berchtesgaden.

"The scene took place on the autobahn going to Munich, at a by-pass
junction to detour a river, probably the Paar river. The Tactical Group (Combat Command) of Lieutenant-Colonel de Guillebon is stopped by
the right side of the autobahn approx 100 meters away of the by-pass.
Lt-Col de Guillebon explains to General Leclerc that the Americans are
refusing to let the French pass before they, themselves, have crossed
the bridge being constructed on the river by one of their units that
belongs to the 3rd I.D.

*(Also de Valence, whom I have just wrote, says that probably a unit of
the 101st did throw the bridge on the river but further in his story he
mentions that O'Daniel did say that "his men" had put the bridge.
This the reason why I have put (3rd ID. !). With your knowledge of 3rd
I.D. you may know who put that bridge, the 101st or 3rd I.D. and correct
deValence's text accordingly.)

General Leclerc who I accompany, goes to the bridge near which, and
below the road, we see a group of American officers among which is a
General. This is General O'Daniel in person, whose face does not appear
to me very friendly. He removes his glove from his right hand to shake
the hand of Leclerc who asks me to translate his words :

Leclerc : 'Why, General, are you refusing to let my Combat Command cross
which has been held back by this for an hour?"

O'Daniel : "Because, General, first you are not on your march axis/route
and because second, those are my Engineers who have thrown the bridge on
the river and in consequence your element will only cross it when my
troops will be on the other side."

General Leclerc raises his voice and asks me to reply that he knows very
well that if General O'Daniel let his troops cross first, that is
because he thinks that there is no longer any German resistance on the
other side, otherwise he would let cross the French Combat Command.

General Leclerc turns towards me and says to me,
"And translate this exactly what I have just said ! Repeat exactly
without changing a word !"

I must say that my translation was not as brutal. General Leclerc
turned back and got onboard his command-car, after having told de
Guillebon that his objective remained unchanged and he had, as soon as
possible, to move toward Berchtesgaden."

The 3rd I.D turned right for Berchtesgaden and arrived first. The French
followed and primarily went to the train station where they found
Goering's train with goods and secret papers on the V1/V2 which were
later sent to France.

Then an officer (Cne Touyeras) asked de Guillebon to go to the
Obersalzberg and he went there taking the left route which the Americans
still left unattended."

The Spanish View

I was reading the "Berchtesgaden Chapter" in your father's web and
I would add something about.

As a Spaniard, I would like to tell you that one of the companies from
the French 2nd Armoured Division that arrived to Berchtesgaden - the 9Th
company from the "Regiment de Marche du Tchad" - was formed almost
entirely by" Spanish Republicans"

(It was the same company that enter first in Paris).
The story of this unit is so interesting but it has been historically
silenced. They were people who can't go back home because they were
political refugees.

They fought under the French flag from 1940 to 1945. Many of them fought
with Leclerc in Africa, Normandy, Paris, Alsace, German Campaigns and
another important group of "Republican Spaniards" do the same with the
13eme Demi-Brigade de la Legion Etrengere in Narvik, Ethiopia, Syria,
Bir-Hakeim, Libya, Tunisia, Italy (Cassino), France and Germany with the
1st Free French Division.

I just want to tell you that because I've had the chance to talk with
some of these veterans (very few of them) and they have the feeling that
history has passed over them because nobody talks about them. That's the
reason I do.

Stephen E. Ambrose, whose best-selling
books made America's aging World War II veterans hometown heroes again,
died early Sunday, October 13, 2002 at a Bay St. Louis, Miss., hospital.
He was 66. Ambrose, a longtime smoker, was diagnosed with lung cancer in
April. Family members were with him when he died about 4 a.m., relatives
said.

While an error was made in regards to Berchtesgaden, Mr. Ambrose has done much to reawaken people to the deeds and sacrifices made by members of our Armed Forces in WWII. It is for this reason that I now ask you to send messages of support to Mr. Ambrose and his family at any of the addresses listed
below.

In past visits to our Society's website you may have seen my letter asking for support in an effort to get Mr. Stephen Ambrose to acknowledge his error in stating that the men of the 101st Airborne were the "liberators" of
Berchtesgaden,
when in fact it was the men of the 3rd. Compassion for others has always been a "trademark" of the American people and one of the many things, our GI's fought to preserve.

I thank you for your support and wish you and your families health and happiness.